Looking for advice on downsizing

[Poita]

I have been too unwell, and with 4 kids really just don't get outside under the stars much anymore.

In the past I have enjoyed imaging through a lomo triplet, and more recently with a C14 both with and without the hyperstar lens, doing planetary, comets, and DSOs. (Never went in for globs etc).
Also have played with a bit of solar observing and photography with a Lunt 60 and PGR mono camera.

But the setup, even with my mount permanently outside has just proven too much for me lately, so I'm after some advice on directions I could take to stay with the hobby.

Totally open to any suggestions, not really a visual guy all that much, and very time and space restricted now.
Have at it!

[mental4astro]

Would you consider a venture back to video astronomy? Immediate results and you can take it as far or simple as you like. Your scope can be surprisingly small for great results too if you have bulk considerations to take into account.

[jjjnettie]

I'm sorry you're not feeling well Moz. :(
When I'm not up to anything "heavy", I get a lot of pleasure out of wide field work. Just shooting through a camera lens. Timelapses and star trails.
Or I mount the camera and lens on the eq5 for some tracked wide field, no guiding necessary.
Then I can just kick back and meteor watch or head back inside for some time with the kids.

[MrB]

I'm with Jeanette on this one.
I'm also not really into visual so I've looked for something quick to set up and pack up for when time is short (which seems to be most of the time these days) and widefields have become my main source of astro enjoyment.

Even at longer widefield focal lengths(~100-200mm) with a decent portable tracking mount and guiding, I can be set up and running in minutes.

I'm using an Astrotrac which is kinda pricey, but I also looked at the Losmandy Starlapse (which is also pricey with the options) and the iOptron SmartEQ.
I kinda wish I also got the SmartEQ just to satisfy my curiosity on how well(or not) it works. The price really is awesome for what it is.

50 and 100mm focal lengths are great for rich regions like the Sagittarius star fields, Rho Ophiuchi, Orion etc, but, a good sharp well corrected 200mm(prime, no zooms here!) is almost the perfect lens for going wide on pretty much every large nebula, like Eta Carina, Running Chicken, Rho, Blue Horsehead, Witch head, Pleiades, Lagoon/Trifid/IC4685, Orion, Gamma Cyg, North America Neb, even the LMC and SMC. It really is a very versatile length.

[PeterEde]

Been loving my recent adventures in to wide field. 100mm so far. Might drop down to 50mm tonight :)
Nice to get whole constellations in a shot

[jjjnettie]

:) I'm loving my 8mm fisheye.
Is wide....is good....

[pmrid]

First, sorry you're unwell.
Second, it's good to respect your limitations.

Downsizing doesn't necessarily mean dropping off in the quality of the imaging you can do - just the scale.

My suggestion, like Jeantte's, is to look at widefield with a DSLR. There's several good light rigs that will make that easier - such as Vixen's Polarie or, for more solid work but still tripod-based, Losmandy's StarLapse system.
Just looking at some of the nightscape images in these fora is very inspiring. I highly recommend it.

Peter

[MrB]

Exactly.
My inspiration for going wide came from the following page, where he has used a modded 450D and nothing longer than 200mm:
http://www.astronomersdoitinthedark.com/index.php?c=159

While I'm not likely to produce anything as good as Scott's work, I'm sure having fun giving it a go! :D

[LewisM]

I understand such surgery is irreversible Trevor, I would advise against it :) :p :D

[Stardrifter_WA]

Who are you talking to Lewis, or are you holding a conversation with yourself :question:

The thread is about downsizing and now you are giving medical advice. :sadeyes: I don't see a Trevor on this thread, and nor did I know that you have had medical training to give such informed advice.

[LewisM]

Typo, I meant Peter (some reason was thinking Trevor Gerdes :shrug:)

Anyway, it was an attempt at humour. Downsizing...surgery...err... never mind.

[PCH]

I got it Lewis - thought it was quite humorous actually.

Wasn't sure who Trevor was, but then jjj was calling him Moz, so I figured I must be missing something.

No biggie and nice try :)

[LewisM]

Phew, glad someone got it:thanks:

[Stardrifter_WA]

Amazing how these threads get changed, with random comments that make no sense, and that are supposed to be funny. :sadeyes:

[Shiraz]

sorry to hear that health issues are intruding that much Peter.

Just a thought, but I always found that the best return for time was solar system imaging (by a huge margin). If there is any way that you can leave the C14 set up if you still have it(or even a C11 or 300mm Newtonian), you would only need to spend a few hours a month to get enough data to keep you busy indoors processing for days (if you wanted). If you can't leave an EQ system set up, consider a goto Dob for planetary - almost zero setup required. vonTom has done some fine planetary work with a 12 inch Dob.

As you know, there are lots of targets. Jupiter always looks slightly different and there is even the opportunity to contribute to real science by imaging when something short term is going on (there are occasional opportunities for contributing images to complement professional activities for example), or you may want to contribute to studies on bolide impact rates. Mercury is a real challenge that can be fun, Venus is often available, Saturn is just beautiful as the ring attitude slowly varies and it occasionally has a bright storm to follow - and it is about time that some more hi res amateur images were taken of the outer two gas giants and their moons. Mars comes around every now and again and is giving us much closer approaches over the next few years. There are regular comets and you might even consider using planetary imaging techniques on some of the bright DSOs, such as the trapezium or the Homunculus. There are also some moons to look at - ours and those of the gas giants. The moon also provides a source of regular occultations that can be used to study otherwise unresolved detail in stellar systems and asteroid occultations provide info on asteroid shape - another opportunity to contribute to real science if you wanted.

Enough there for years of entertainment.

Edit: Here endeth another sermon - sorry.

[PCH]

Yet you still go to the trouble of responding Peter, rather than just letting it pass by. In fact both your comments in this thread have been derisive, and haven't contributed anything positive.

[LewisM]

Peter (Stardrifter), please, look in the mirror and smile, laugh and be happy. Life is too short. (yes, I read all 5 revisions of the final remark).

[G58]

Hey Poiter, I am thinking of downsizing too, from 12inch Meade LX200 to a 80mm triplet refractor I get my best pics with the 80mm anyway, hope you feel better soon.

[torana68]

+1 a giggle never hurt anyone nor ruined a conversation